Systems and methods for identifying data sources associated with a circuit design

Abstract

Systems, methods, software products identify a data source used in analysis of a circuit design. Data source information, including identification of the data source used to generate data for an entity in a design portion of interest in the circuit design, is retrieved. The data source information is formatted as a bit vector associated with the entity, wherein each of a plurality of bits in the bit vector comprises indicia applicable to the entity. The bit vector is processed to generate formatted output.

1 . A method for identifying data sources associated with a circuit design, comprising: 
 retrieving data source information including identification of a data source used to generate data for an entity in a design portion of interest in the circuit design;    formatting the data source information as a bit vector associated with the entity, wherein each of a plurality of bits in the bit vector comprises indicia applicable to the entity; and    processing the bit vector to generate formatted output.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entity is at least one design element in the design portion of interest.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entity is a group of design elements in the design portion of interest.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entity is an HLSN in the design portion of interest.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entity is a net in the design portion of interest.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia includes information that identifies at least one specific data source applicable to the entity.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving further includes retrieving information that identifies a type of analysis performed by the CAD tool, and wherein the indicia identifies a specific type of the analysis.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving includes retrieving data source information that identifies limits that were applied to numeric quantities in the analysis, and wherein the indicia identifies the limits.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of retrieving includes retrieving data source information that identifies errors that occurred while processing a design element, and wherein the indicia identifies the errors.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying the bit vector.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the bit vector in a file.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bit vector is overloaded such that a specific subset of a plurality of bits therein has a significance dependent on the specific subset and on usage context of the bit vector.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia identifies a specific type of the analysis.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia identifies limits that were applied to numeric quantities in the analysis.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the indicia identifies errors that occurred while processing a design element in the design portion of interest.  
   
   
       16 . A system for identifying a data source used by a CAD tool in analysis of a circuit design, wherein a plurality of data sources are available to the CAD tool, comprising: 
 a processor coupled to a computer memory;    a plurality of data source indicators, stored in the computer memory, each of which comprises a plurality of bits for identifying the data sources associated with an entity in a design portion of interest in the circuit design; and    a table, stored in the computer memory, for formatting the data source indicators.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the data source indicators are generated from information retrieved from the data sources.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of the bit vectors are processed by the processor to generate formatted output.  
   
   
       19 . A system for identifying data sources associated with a circuit design, comprising: 
 means for retrieving data source information that identifies at least one of the data sources;    means for formatting the data source information as a bit vector, wherein each of a plurality of bits in the bit vector comprises indicia of a specific data source applicable to an entity in a design portion of interest in the circuit design; and    means for processing the bit vector to generate formatted output.    
   
   
       20 . A software product comprising instructions, stored on computer-readable media, wherein the instructions, when executed by a computer, perform steps for identifying data sources used in analysis of a circuit design, comprising: 
 instructions for retrieving data source information that identifies a data source;    instructions for formatting the data source information as a bit vector, wherein each of a plurality of bits in the bit vector comprises indicia of the data source applicable to an entity in a design portion of interest in the circuit design; and    instructions for processing the bit vector to generate formatted output.